Hard work but Galway finish in some style

Date Published: {J}

Galway 1-18

Limerick 1-11

STEPHEN GLENNON

IN KILMALLOCK

IF hurling worked on the same principles as Monopoly, then Galway’s senior hurlers certainly diminished their ‘Get Out of Jail’ card stash against an eager Limerick outfit in this keenly fought, if scrappy National League opener in Kilmallock on Sunday.

Having struggled to get a firm foothold on the contest, Galway’s plight looked extremely perilous when the home side were awarded a 38th minute penalty after corner forward Alan O’Connor was fouled. If Limerick had scored from the placed ball, they would have leaped into a four-point lead, but, more importantly, their confidence levels would have soared and steeled them for the second half battle.

As it was, Galway ‘keeper James Skehill bravely got his foot to Paudie McNamara’s low effort, deflecting it out for a ’65, which O’Connor duly converted to nudge his side into a 1-8 to 0-9 lead. Limerick, though, still had the momentum and an opening day shock was not beyond the bounds of possibility.

Of course, this scenario was incomprehensible before throw-in. Limerick hurling was in turmoil, with 24 of the 2009 panel at odds with entrenched current manager Justin McCarthy. So, this was a new-look Limerick, but what the Shannonsiders lacked in guile and experience, they willingly made up for with guts and youthful endeavour.

In many respects, this Limerick outfit were a side with a point to prove. They got stuck in from the throw-in and stood toe to toe with their Galway rivals for the opening 35 minutes of the first half to lead 1-7 to 0-9 at the break.

Their goal arrived on just 13 minutes, after Galway wing-back Kevin Hynes hesitated for a brief moment in collecting possession and Limerick swept through like a hurricane to gobble up the loose ball. In the resultant move, Cathal Mullane blasted an effort beyond Skehill to catapult the underdogs in an unlikely 1-2 to 0-3 lead.

In fairness, Galway did respond immediately. Cyril Donnellan tallied his second point of the afternoon, before midfielder Niall Cahalan and half-forward David Burke hit further efforts to reclaim a slender advantage.

Still, Galway were far from fluid, showing little of the enthusiasm and movement that they displayed in their Walsh Cup final victory over Dublin. Quite often, though, when a team hits a high one week, they can be a bit flat in their following outing, and this was definitely the case with Galway in the tight confines of Kilmallock.

Another mitigating factor was that this was Galway’s fourth week on the road, so that, too, had to take its toll this early in the season. In any event, it was Limerick who forced the pace in the second quarter. O’Connor rattled over three frees from a myriad of angles, while the impressive Brian O’Sullivan and Graeme Mulcahy added further efforts to establish that interval lead.

For their part, Galway were having difficulty finding the target – a feature throughout the 70 minutes as they tallied 12 wides, five in the first half – with only Niall Hayes, Farragher (free) and Aidan Harte posting scores for the visitors in a frugal 18-minute spell before the break.

Indeed, were it not for the Trojan efforts of full-backs Damien Joyce and captain Shane Kavanagh and a man of the match display from centre-half back Tony Óg Regan, an otherwise lethargic Galway could have been grappling with a greater half-time deficit.

No doubt, Galway were living on the edge, underlined by the concession of the penalty just three minutes into the second period. Skehill’s save, though, proved pivotal, while the introduction of defender Fergal Moore and forwards Iarla Tannian and Niall Healy brought fresh impetus to the Galway challenge.

For more, read page 55 of this week’s Connacht Tribune.